Meet The Team

Bob Nevins

Founding Executive and Director

Bob served in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971 as a Medical Evacuation Helicopter Pilot with the 101st Airborne Division (DUSTOFF), where he demonstrated extraordinary bravery and resilience, even sustaining wounds in action in 1971. After witnessing the profound impact of suicide and trauma within the veteran community, Bob made a life-changing decision to leave his successful 24-year career as an airline captain.

Driven by a passion for helping others, he partnered with Melody Squier to create a pioneering equine experience program for veterans. Today, Bob and his dedicated team have expanded their mission with a new nationwide program that extends their life-changing support to include not only veterans but also first responders and frontline healthcare workers, ensuring a broader reach for those who serve and sacrifice for others.

In October of 2024, Bob received the Congressional Gold Medal for his work in Vietnam.

Melody Squier

Program Creator and Facilitator of Equine Engagement

Melody brings a wealth of experience in working with both horses and people, having positively impacted the lives of over 900 veterans, police officers, and firefighters through her training and program development efforts. A dedicated member of the Tinmouth Volunteer Fire Department for 15 years, Melody is a Level II firefighter who also took the initiative to establish a large animal technical rescue team within her department.

Her expertise extends across multiple fields: she is an equine specialist, linguist, farrier, equine dentist, and a valued member of her county's Disaster Animal Response Team. As an Animal Cruelty Investigator and Instructor in Vermont, Melody was appointed to the Livestock Care Standard Advisory Council in 2010, serving for nine years as an equine expert. She is also a certified Reach Out to Horses trainer, further underscoring her deep commitment to animal welfare and human-animal connection.

Melody’s diverse skill set and passion for service make her a powerful advocate for both animals and the people who work with them.

Denise Romeo

Executive Director

Denise joined the team at Alliance180 as Executive Director in April 2023. Before that, she served as Executive Vice President for the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. She has over 22 years of experience in non-profit management and received her IOM (Institute of Organizational Management) from the US Chamber of Commerce in 2009. In her role at the Chamber, she started and was staff liaison to the Veterans Business Council, which allowed her to work with military veterans in various ways, which is her passion.

Denise lives with her husband in Clifton Park, NY, and is a proud mother of three.

Janelle Huggard

Assistant Director of Program

Janelle joined Bob and Melody nearly a decade ago, playing a key role in the development of Equine-Veteran programming. Over the years, she has expertly coordinated and managed logistics for hundreds of veteran participants, ensuring smooth and impactful experiences for all involved. Now, Janelle is excited to continue her dedication to this new and expanded initiative, looking forward to helping hundreds more veterans, first responders, and frontline healthcare workers through this transformative program.

Our Board

Bob Nevins

Founding Executive/Director of Program

Bob served in Vietnam as a highly decorated medical evacuation helicopter pilot for the 101st Airborne and was wounded in action in 1971. He took an early retirement as an airline captain to devote the last ten years to a non-profit that he created to help with the issue of suicide in the veteran community. After helping over 800 fellow veterans, Bob has now created a new
Program called Alliance180, Inc.

Lori Petrosino

President

Lori was born and raised in the Finger Lakes and moved to the Albany area after receiving her Bachelors in Science Education from SUNY Oswego. She began teaching in 1985 and then completed her Master’s in Education and obtained her School District Administrators Certificate from the College of St. Rose. She retired in 2018 after 33 years in education with the last 18 years as a Junior/Senior High School Principal. She has been married for 30 years and has two children.

Linda Gibeault

Strategic Fundraiser

Linda Gibeault has been an active member of the Saratoga County community for over 35 years, dedicating her time and leadership to a variety of nonprofit organizations and initiatives. Known for her commitment to service, Linda has previously held the position of president of the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club and a board member of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. A longtime supporter of organizations like Double H Ranch and the Saratoga Springs YMCA, Linda is widely recognized for her contributions to both civic and charitable causes.

Jason Collins

Treasurer

Jason is a 5-year veteran of the U.S. Navy. He was an enlisted Master-At-Arms from 2002 to 2007. He served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. His duty stations included South Korea, San Diego, and Washington State to name a few. He graduated from
SUNY Plattsburgh with a B.S. in psychology in 2013. He worked at SUNY Adirondack as the G.I. Bill School Certifying Official, SUNY Empire State College as the Veteran Outreach Coordinator, and currently is the Work, Family, Life Specialist at Naval Support Activity Saratoga He is happily married with a stepdaughter. They
have three rescue dogs; Daisy, Buddy, and Rudy.